This article was co-authored by Laura Martin. Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Chemicals and high temperatures can cause serious hair damage. Dyeing your hair exposes it to additional harsh chemicals, making it a risky process for already damaged hair. However, if you really want to dye your hair, there are things you can do to protect it even if it's damaged. Spend a few weeks babying your hair and strengthening it with hair masks and conditioners. Choose a dye made for damaged hair and focus on areas like the roots instead of dyeing all your hair. Afterwards, use products made for dyed hair to prevent further damage.

Steps

Part 1

Strengthening Your Hair First

1

Get a trim. Before dyeing hair that's already damaged, get a trim. This will help remove split ends, which can keep your hair healthy in the long run.

2

Condition more aggressively. In the weeks leading up to coloring your hair, go for a more aggressive conditioning regimen. An extra hydrating conditioner can help prevent future damage to you hair. Use an extra hydrating conditioner daily, a deep conditioner once a week, and use a leave-in conditioner on hot days to prevent your hair from drying out in the sun.

Start using a shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair because they're gentle and moisturizing. Switching your hair products now will also ensure that you have the right products after coloring.

3

Use protein treatments. Protein treatments can help strengthen and replenish damaged hair. You can get protein treatments done at a salon or buy protein treatments to do at home. You should only do protein treatments every one to two weeks. Otherwise, they could make your hair more brittle.

Protein treatments are similar to hair masks. You saturated the hair with the protein treatment, let it sit for a set period of time, and then rinse it out.[1]

Make sure that you follow all of the instructions for using the protein mask. Leaving the product on for too long can cause your hair to become brittle.

4

Use a hair mask. The day before coloring your hair, purchase a deep conditioning hair mask from a salon or department store. Apply the mask to your hair and leave it in for the recommended time frame before washing it out. This will ensure your hair is adequately hydrated prior to dyeing, minimizing further damage.

If you're getting your hair done at a salon, ask your stylist for a recommendation for a hair mask. They will probably have some experience working with damaged hair and can give you a good recommendation depending on the kind of dye job you're getting.

Natural ingredients that are good for the hair include things like olive oil, milk, honey, and coconut oil.[2]

Part 2

Selecting the Right Colors and Products

1

Select a hair color made for damaged hair. Look for hair colors that are specifically designed for use on damaged hair. Look for ammonia-free products that have nourishing additives like royal jelly. Moisturizing dyes are also great for damaged hair.[3] Demi-permanent is also generally better than permanent for damaged hair.

2

Avoid attempting to lighten your hair. If you're dyeing damaged hair, do not attempt to lighten it. Going from something like brunette to blonde requires a lot of damage to the cuticle. Go for shades darker than your natural hair or simply try to cover grays and roots. It is never a good idea to lighten damaged hair.

3

Wash and condition your hair the day before coloring. Hair that is free of product buildup will better absorb the color, but you also want to allow enough time for your natural oils to create a protective barrier on your scalp. Wait at least overnight after washing before dyeing your hair.[4]

4

Focus mostly on your roots. If your hair has already been dyed, focus only on touching up the roots. Avoid applying dye throughout your hair, as hair that's already damaged may dry out further with excess dye. In general, the less coloring the better when dealing with damaged hair.

5

See a stylist, if possible. While many people can use box hair colors successfully, treating damaged hair of any kind is tricky. As color always causes damage, it's a good idea to see a stylist if you're going to be coloring damaged hair. A stylist will know how to best minimize further damage when coloring hair.

Part 3

Caring for Damaged Hair after Coloring

1

Use a renewal mask. Invest in a quality renewal mask after dyeing your hair. Once a week, apply the mask throughout your hair and leave it in for the recommended timeframe before washing it out. This will help re-hydrate your hair, minimizing damage done by coloring.[5]

If you got your hair colored at a salon, ask your stylist to recommend a renewal mask.

2

Buy a color-protecting shampoo. After dyeing your hair, use only a color preserving shampoo to avoid stripping away the dye. The better you protect your color, the less often you'll need to touch up your hair. As dyeing always causes damage, it's always a good idea to dye damaged hair as little as possible.[6]

3

Shampoo infrequently. Infrequent shampooing can also keep your hair color intact longer. Only shampoo every other day and no more than two to three times per week. This will minimize your need for follow up treatments, preventing further damage from excessive dyeing.[7]

Unfortunately no. You can hydrate damaged hair and smooth out the cuticle which will make it feel softer and look healthier. You can treat it with protein, which will help prevent breakage. But all treatments for damaged hair are temporary, not true fixes.

I've only dyed my hair once. The ends took a second box (on shoulder length) and now 3.5 weeks later its almost gone from the ends while roots hold. What can I do to make it hold better next time?

Community Answer

You probably need a better quality hair dye. You may also be trying to change your color too radically, leading to the color not taking. Try using a more expensive dye that's closer to your natural color.

My hair is seriously bleached and can break when damp. Is it safe to dye it a darker color?

Community Answer

No. You should not further process your hair if it is in such a fragile state. If the whole head of hair is brittle, cut as much as possible off and deep condition the rest until new hair begins to grow. Gradually trim the damaged ends off until hair has grown back healthy.